Conservation Corps of Long Beach gets $550,000 grant

LONG BEACH - While many businesses in Long Beach are looking to cut back, the Conservation Corps of Long Beach is aiming to expand thanks to a $550,000 grant it received Thursday.

"This grant is 10 times more important during the recession," said executive director and CEO of the Conservation Corps in Long Beach, Mike Bassett. "We haven't been able to do weatherization for a while and now we can."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors received a $5 million donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation this past spring. Through a competitive selection process, six grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations with a history of working with mayors to train people for green jobs, and the Conservation Corps partnership with Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster stood out as a model program.

"Wal-Mart is focused on identifying and understanding unmet needs and works to fund initiatives that we think hold promise of making real change," said Wal-Mart's Vice President and Regional Manager Kim Sentovich. "That is why we are here today."

The funds the grant provides to the Conservation Corp will impact six areas. The four primary areas are drought tolerant landscape installation, weatherization, solar panel installation and recycling.

"This is a terrific day," said Foster. "We are here today to handle two of Long Beach's most critical problems, sustainability and vocational training."

Twenty at-risk youths and two additional adult supervisors will be trained in a variety of areas, thanks to the grant.

Sergio Venegas is someone who has benefitted from being trained and employed by the Conservation Corps in Long Beach. He is a recycling intern who was placed at Long Beach City College and handles all the recycling opportunities at the school.

"The Conservation Corp has meant a lot to me," said Venegas. "It has helped me prioritize and made me into a harder worker and more determined person."

Sentovich said even though Wal-Mart has been been affected by the recession, company officials believe it is more important to donate toward green practices during a recession.

"We feel it is our job as one of the larger corporations to set the example for other companies to make sure they understand good and profitable business is not opposite of sustainability and green practices," said Sentovich.

Bassett said the grant came at an ideal time for the Conservation Corps.

"When the city hurts, we do too, and we couldn't do what we do without the city's cooperation," said Bassett. "This is more than important, it's huge."